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[video] improve overall technique/tactics

Hello,

I am looking for some advice and tipps concerning my technique (and tactics). I am regulary playing tournaments with my doubles partner since about two years and uploaded two videos from our latest tournament this weekend:

I am the tall (2m) guy with the yellow racket.
In the semi-final we played against two opponents from our club, thats why I am a little bit more (over-)motivated in some situations :P
The final was a tougher match, but we won in three sets But again, the rallies were pretty short, with a very high error-rate.

We usually play very offensive/aggressive and get the attack in almost every rally and against every opponent we play against, but we produce a lot of unforced and easy errors during play. Normally we try to bring my doubles partner to the back of the court, where he can use his big power smashes and I move up to take the net.

My technique looks pretty ugly, especially compared with my doubles partner's technique. I never had good coaching, so my technique just came by playing over time and maybe you could give me some advice on how to improve.

I would really appreciate your ideas concerning technique and tactics, thank you

Your partner is quite good. You should ask him for advice instead. One thing for you, even though you're quite tall, you seem to be a bit slow in moving backwards eg. lining up for a smash. Many times this results in you trying to strike the bird when it's past you. For a proper smash and power transfer, the bird has to be taken when it's about half a foot in front of your racket shoulder.

@gundamzaku:
1.+2. a club member filmed the videos, for the next videos I will keep in mind to film the whole court.
3. well I would hope to hear everything I can implement during training. something like "keeping the racket-head up" or else. maybe you have some ideas for me

@visor:
ok, that is something I will try to focus on the next training. I also experience this problem when playing singles.

Your partner is quite good. You should ask him for advice instead. One thing for you, even though you're quite tall, you seem to be a bit slow in moving backwards eg. lining up for a smash. Many times this results in you trying to strike the bird when it's past you. For a proper smash and power transfer, the bird has to be taken when it's about half a foot in front of your racket shoulder.

everything that visor said

but what i noticed was that taller players do tend to have more of a problem moving backward back peddling. check out some training you can do at home with footwork like "chinese footwork" that you can search on youtube, that's what i'm doing right now, helps with quick steps.

just watching your stance maybe bend your knees a bit more in defense like you do in the beginning of a point when you partner was about to serve and you're standing behind him.

given you don't seem to be close to being overweight like me, you should be able to move much faster than you do you have potential!

it's a foul when moving when servicing right? i saw you drag your leg every-time you serve! visor was right, your partner is good, you should get more advice from him.

I did not watch the video, but if he drags his foot without lifting it above the floor, in other words the foot still maintains contact with the foor during the dragging, it seems to be not a fault:

Law 9.13

Some part of both feet of the server and the receiver shall remain in contact with the surface of the court in a stationary position from the start of the service (Law 9.2) until the service is delivered (Law 9.3).

So you interpret it as moving from one position to another and not remaining stationary.

Not if he lifts his foot slightly but with his toe still touching the floor, hahaha

dragging foot is fault - the foot position has moved.
lift heal with toe still on floor is not fault if toe has not moved - the foot is still in position (position = position on the floor, not foot position/shape)

Overall, I think you're both working very well. Movement is good, especially when either of you lift or the shuttle is lifted to your partner.

Few minor things you may wish to consider:

1) Your partner is a little lazy when you serve (especially in the 2nd video). He's on his heels with his racket down. It's a very bad habit.

2) Your racket dips a bit low in between shots, especially when you're at the net. I appreciate that you don't want to accidentally clip the shuttle, but tape height is better than hip height.

3) When your partner was serving, you were a little far back, especially in the 1st video. However, you appeared about right in the 2nd video.

4) Both you and your partner lifted a little too frequently, especially in the 1st video. On some of your opposition's pushes & net shots, you/your partner could have moved forwards and taken them a little earlier. It'll give you an opportunity to put a tougher net shot or drive in and force a lift.

5) Some of you/your partner's smash defense was a little loose. Driving upwards looks attacking, but strong opposition will intercept it early and put you under pressure. If you can't drive flat or downwards, consider a block or a lift.

6) You take up a really good position when the shuttle is lifted to your partner. However, when your partner plays a drop shot, consider taking 1 or 2 steps towards where the shuttle will land. A good example of this was at 2.34 in the 1st video. You could have let your opposition get out of trouble cheaply with a net shot.

just some things i noticed at first glance:
1. you receive the serves too far away from the net. you stand like 50cm or even further away from the service line. try to stand nearer to the net and attack the service! there's no way you play a clear after the service! always try to play a drop or halfcourt-push as a return!
2. in the final, at 2:03: why the hell are you playing a clear here? there's no way a clear even comes to your mind in this situation! this is an automatic net-drop, no alternatives!!
3. your recovery after strokes is often bad. example? 0:34 of the 2nd video. you almost fall around the court. (there are other occassions where your recovery is weak, e.g. 1:50...). work on your strength/fitness/stability/balance!

concerning my service:
I was quite surprised when I looked at the videos because I didn't notice that I was serving so quickly. Almost everytime I already served while still being in motion, I don't know if I was in some kind of hurry, but I will focus on standing still before I start serving next time. It definitely didn't feel so rushed.

@line&length:
2) yes, that is a very bad habit I have. I always keep my racket up when my doubles partner is hitting the shuttlecock, but before the shuttle returns I tend to let it drop again. That is also one reason, why my overhead shots lock so ugly because I often start the swing with the racket in a bad position. I will try to focus on that

3) I actually did this on purpose because I knew our opponent from the first video and was expecting him to lift as a return of service. As the other forum-members already pointed out, that I am not very quick at moving backwards, so I tried to stand a little bit further back and wait for the shuttle. In the final game the opponent was much more aggressive on returning the service and I moved forward a bit to cover the mixed-spots.
Hopefully my backwards-movement will improve and I can stand in the right spot every time

4) Yes, you're right. We were lifting a little bit more because we knew we didn't have to fear the smashes from one of our opponents, but I see your point in not being aggressive enough in defense. But moving forward in defense makes me quite uncomfortable because I am used and comfortable to defend below the waist. But especially against weaker smashers I should try to implement this.

5) That sounds good. Until now we didn't have many opponents who were so aggressive at intercepting, but it will definitely be good to keep in mind against future opponents.

6) I will try to focus on that too

Thank you for all the feedback. I was hoping for stuff like this. I will definitely try to focus on your advice during training today

sorry for being out topic, but i have to ask this. are there anymore good/better player around your area? Maybe you should come to countries like M'sia where badminton is too common. A place where you can find very pro/talented player and learn/copy their movement on court.